Making a lifelong commitment to your partner is one of the most exciting times of life. If you haven’t shared the news or celebrated your engagement with loved ones yet, make sure to set some time to do so! If you’re ready to jump into planning in the New Year but have no idea where to begin, we have some things to think through in the early stages of wedding planning since it can get overwhelming fast. Before you jump full swing into planning, first think about these 5 elements.
Insure your ring.
If it isn’t insured already—FYI your fiancé can insure the ring as soon as it’s purchased and in his possession—get your ring insured as soon as possible. Your engagement ring will be protected and covered with insurance. Each policy is different so find out what exactly you’re covered for (lost ring, stolen ring, damaged ring, etc.), and note the cost of coverage will depend on a variety of things like the ring’s value and the theft rate of the area you live in.
Set a wedding budget.
Before you can choose a venue or vendors or decide on any other wedding details, it’s important for you and your fiancé to figure out how much you can afford to spend on the wedding as well as if any family members will be contributing to the wedding.
Draft a guest list.
Once you have an overall wedding budget in mind, create a guest list. Catering makes up a hefty portion of the wedding budget, so really think through who’s definitely invited, who isn’t and who is on the fence. One thing to note about the wedding budget and guest list is the best way to save money on your wedding without sacrificing so much on the details is to limit the number of guests. Cutting a guest list can be difficult so first check for duplications (you’d be surprised how often a name appears more than once!). If you still need to cut numbers to stay within your wedding budget, first cut distant relatives, children and anyone you haven’t seen or spoken to in years.
Consider the venue and wedding date.
Book your ceremony and reception locations FIRST to secure your wedding date. You can’t book any other vendors until you have a set date at a venue site. The day, time and time of year you choose to have your wedding will significantly determine the pricing at many venues. For example, weddings held on a Saturday are generally more expensive than ones held on a Friday evening or Sunday. Weddings held in the “off” months (November to April) are generally cheaper than weddings held during “wedding” season (May to October).
Think about your deal breakers.
It may seem like every single detail is significant while wedding planning, but the reality is there are many elements that aren’t important to every couple. You and your fiancé should discuss both your priorities and non-negotiables. Whatever details are important to you to make the vision for your wedding a reality, make them happen. BUT be willing to be flexible on other areas, especially when your wedding budget comes into play.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with planning, hire a wedding planner like me to assist you. Wedding planners can help couples plan their wedding in a variety of capacities.
Monday, January 15, 2018
